CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — Bad guy, that's how Kyler Edman's five-year-old sister describes Ryan Cole — the man who Charlotte County Investigators believe stabbed her brother to death inside the Port Charlotte home.
Through a less redacted affidavit released from the Charlotte County Clerks Office, we now know more details of this horrific murder.
According to the affidavit, the five-year-old child told detectives her brother had gotten into a fight and was now dead.
The five-year-old child told detectives the 'bad guy' had shot and got into the house.
When asked about a gun, the five-year-old told detectives Cole was pointing at her brother and she heard when Cole told her brother to put his hands up as a police officer would.
When asked if her brother had used anything to defend himself, the five-year-old said he used a kitchen knife.
The affidavit states the child was overwhelmed with fear during the interview, and was repeatedly asking if the 'bad guy' was near.
The interview concluded with the five-year-old child asking if she could speak to her brother.
We talked with Florida Gulf Coast Professor, Pamella Seay, about the case to see if the 5-year old could possibly take the stand to testify about what she saw the day Cole allegedly broke into the home.
"Many courts simply don't allow it, many judges will simply not allow it. They to make sure that this particular young child is capable of handling this information," said Seay.
"You have to look at whether or not this young child has an understanding of what happened. What did she see, what did it mean to her," added Seay.
In the affidavit, it also states Ryan Cole was on heavy drugs during the murder.
Cole told detective he had purchased $40 worth of heroin and meth that morning.
Cole said he injected the drugs before returning to his friend's house near the crime scene.
After injecting the drugs, Cole says everything was a blur, all he remembers is waking up at a hospital in Lee County.
Professor Seay says Cole being on heavy drugs could impact the case.
"I'm sure there are a lot of people who would say this is first-degree murder, this is the worst it can be — well in order to prove first-degree murder there a couple of things you need. First of all, premeditation. Can someone who is on drugs of this kind be, he was on meth and heroin, formulate that intent under that kind of influence," said Seay.
Ryan Cole's next court appearance will be December 9.
